Amazon mulls entrance to Japanese prescription drug market

Amazon is reportedly mulling on expanding its business in Japan and entering the prescription drug market there. The e-commerce and tech firm is said to be planning to team up with small to mid-sized pharmacies for the project.

According to Nikkei Asia, some sources who are familiar with the project shared that Amazon may launch a new prescription service through partnerships with the local pharmacies in the Asian nation. They added that this is likely to be established starting next year when electronic prescriptions are set to be allowed in Japan for the first time.

The sources opined that if Amazon pushes through with this plan of jumping into the prescription drug sales business, this move could be a turning point for the local brick-and-mortar pharmacies in Japan.

This is because, with the application of Amazon’s cutting-edge ordering and distribution system, customers in the country will be able to have their medicines delivered right on the steps of their homes instead of going out to buy them in pharmacy stores.

To operate the business, Amazon will join forces with local pharmacies and set up a platform where patients can find instructions online - on how to take their medications. In any case, the prices of prescription drugs in Japan are usually set by the government, while the distribution system is in shambles since there are 70 wholesalers across the country, and the number of pharmacies has already reached 60,000.

Thus, if Amazon will enter the country’s prescription drug market, it will be able to offer a more organized distribution system as well. This means that patients and consumers will be able to receive their medicines in a timely and orderly manner.

Meanwhile, Fox Business further reported that the new prescription service may be launched next year and through Amazon, pharmacies in Japan will be able to sell medicines directly to patients online since Japan will start allowing electronic prescriptions in the country by that time. People may obtain virtual prescriptions on Amazon’s platform after receiving professional medical care online.